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A crippling disorder mainly effecting the central nervous system. Parkinson's common inflicts bad shaking and leads to the complete shutdown of the body. There is currently no cure.

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The population most affected by Parkinson's disease is people over the age of 50. Nearly half a million seniors in the United States are formally diagnosed with the condition. Due to Parkinson's degenerative nature, age is a major causal factor of this disease that contributes to motor dysfunction.

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Recent studies have indicated that the environment one is in may be a causal factor for Parkinson's disease. Some environments, particularly in rural areas, have higher rates of reported Parkinson's in comparison to urban areas. Additionally, high calorie diets also increase risk and have been linked as causes of the disease.

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Medical experts have drawn a hypothesis on how some environmental factors may play a role on the development of Parkinson's Disease. The exposure to farming chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides; have cause people to develop Parkinson’s disease because of the exposure to environmental hazards.

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The chances of you contracting Parkinson's disease increase with age. You must first be carrying the gene for it to be expressed. Males tend to carry the gene more often than females. the population of people affected by the gene is over 10 million but the number of people who carry the disease could be much higher.

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Blue-collar men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease since they are more likely to experience more head trauma and toxins at their workplace than women.

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Recent studies have shown that even though there isn't a direct link between head trauma and Parkinson's. Its believed that head trauma puts you at a higher risk of developing Parkinson's.

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For an unknown reason, whether it be environmental exposure to things such as pesticides, genetics, or age, neural degeneration is triggered in those with Parkinson's disease (PD). Degeneration and cell death in regions of the brain such as the substantia nigra cause physiological changes in people with PD. Due to substantia nigra's function of releasing the neurotransmitter dopamine, damage to this area can cause a dopamine deficit, having catastrophic effects on the body.

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Parkinson's disease affects the Basal Ganglia, Thalamus and the Cortex. These parts of the brain control movement planning, muscle control, emotion regulation, posture, and even speech.

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It has been proven that the dopaminergic neurons that produce dopamine begin to deteriorate and die as the Parkinsons progress. This leads to a significant reduction in dopamine levels in parts of the brain that control movement. This is what causes the erratic behavior in Parkinson's patients' movement. Since dopamine is less prevalent, people with Parkinson's are not able to control their movements. As dopamine levels decrease motor symptoms, including tremors, rigidity, slow movement, and impaired balance and coordination, begin to appear. The loss of dopamine also impacts other functions like mood, sleep, and cognition.

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Substantia Nigra is the primary section of the Basal Ganglia that is damaged/effected with Parkinson's disease. Neural firing diminishes in this area in those with PD. Effects of specific Substantia Nigra damage include shakiness, difficulty focusing, and other issues found in those with PD.

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One common symptom of Parkinson's disease is muscle rigidity. For many people with PD, this means that muscles throughout the body feel as if they are in a constant state of flexion, and can even inhibit range of motion. Accompanied by muscle rigidity is pain from this consistent strained state of the muscles.

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There is no official method to diagnosing PD. However, bradykinesia can be an indicator used to unofficially diagnose the condition. This is diagnosed by the patient with Parkinson's doing different tasks that help indicate the slowness in their motor skills. The test consists of finger tapping, and measuring basic motor skills. Doctors also look into the patients family history to see if there is a history of the disease.

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Delayed movement results from the failure of the basal ganglia output to reinforce the cortical mechanisms. This causes the inability to prepare and execute the commands to move. The cortical deficit is most apparent in midline motor areas. This leads to difficulty with self-paced movements, prolonged reaction times, and abnormal pre-movement EEG activity. This symptom can worsen over time and cause total loss of muscle control.

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70% to 90% of individuals experience tremors, or uncontrollable shaking of the body. Tremors often start on one side of the body, originating at the end of the limbs, and progressively worsen with the development of the disease, until finally plateauing.

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Another symptom present in those with PD is difficulty with speech. This symptom usually presents itself later on as PD progresses. Trouble forming words, slurred speech, and delays in getting out sentences are common manifestations of this symptom of PD. This often occurs due to the degeneration of muscles and nervous tissue that are used in speech.

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There is currently no cure for Parkinson's Disease. However, medications such as Cabidopa-levodopa have been used to help subside the chronic symptoms of the condition. This medication works by entering the brain barrier, and converting itself into dopamine. By increasing dopamine in the brain, muscle control should be improved and thus decrease symptoms of muscular dysfunction.

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Parkinson's disease currently can not be diagnosed 100% correctly from a neurological test. Instead, when diagnosing someone they must look at if they have the symptoms of Parkinson's in their brain. By utilizing brain scans, doctors can compare the specific parts of the brain affected by Parkinson's with other patients with the disease.

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In cases of more severe PD, deep brain stimulation might be beneficial. This is a surgical procedure in which electrodes are attached to the brain, and connected to a device that is placed in the thoracic cavity. This helps stimulate the substantia nigra and basal ganglia of the brain, which improves muscle control and reduces symptoms of PD.

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As the neurological disease progresses, people with PD can begin to experience cognitive changes of the brain. Loss of memory, both short and long term, is one of the most prominent changes observed in people with PD, and mirrors the effects of dementia. Mood swings, depression, anxiety, and difficulty with concentration are other cognitive changes observed in those with PD.

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A long-term effect of Parkinson's is that patients slowly start to lose control over their urinary tract. This causes an increased urge to urinate and an increased frequency of urination, which can be especially prominent at night. In advanced stages, this is especially inconvenient for patients since it can cause involuntary release of urine.

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Patients with Parkinson's Disease often times experience difficulty falling and staying asleep. This can be due to the tremors that result from PD, drugs the patient was prescribed, or the loss of motor control in muscles causing the patient to jerk awake. Patients with PD often have REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, or RBD, which cause more vivid dreams and result in them reacting more frequently to their dreams. The loss of good sleep can lead to multiple other issues such as anxiety and impaired cognitive abilities.

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CBT is based on the concept that thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap individuals in a negative cycle. CBT focuses on recognizing and changing these negative thoughts and feelings by restructuring the pathways towards happier, more realistic ones. This can in turn affect how people react/behave to stressful or unfortunate situations. CBT can help treat the long-term effect of cognitive changes and depression that may arise from PD. Mental health therapists, social workers, and psychologists are required to provide this treatment.

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People with PD can often have anxiety from the overwhelming physical and emotional toll the condition has on the body. PD symptoms can arise at any time, and can vastly differ from person to person. This can lead to uncertainty and the feeling as if the person has no control over the disease and their life. Psychoeducation is a practice that helps inform people with PD of their condition to provide a better understanding of the disease, and educates them on how to properly manage it. This can treat the long-term affect of anxiety that can accompany PD. This treatment is often provided by psychiatrists and mental health therapists.

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Relaxation therapy, or mindfulness therapy, is a treatment that helps ground patients, promotes staying in the present moment, and teaches both mindful and meditative techniques. Some forms of this therapy can even focus on how to communicate feelings and enhance conversational skills in a tranquil manner. This form of therapy is designed to treat long-term and short-term anxiety that may stem from dealing with PD. It can also help patients with PD who suffer with anxiety in relation to speaking, due to delayed or inhibited speech patterns. Therapists and psychologists can provide this treatment.

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One occupational therapy rehabilitation treatment that may be necessary for someone with PD is hand/upper extremity coordination therapy. This form of therapy focuses on improving fine motor control in the fingers and hands, to help improve their dexterity, flexibility, and movements. This is often performed through constraint training, gripping and pinching exercises, and other controlled motions. The short and long term effects that this therapy has on the condition is increased mobility of the fingers and hands, and improved muscular control over the appendages to help with activities of daily living (ADLs) for people with PD. Without this therapy, the muscular tremors can become uncontrollable. Occupational therapists are required to deliver this treatment.

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For patients with Parkinson's, gait disturbances are very common. This causes their motor skills to severely decrease so physical therapy for this is essential for patients with Parkinson's. This treatment will help them with their ability to walk properly, balance, flexibility, and coordination. It can also help improve movement and functioning with daily activities. Gait training can be tailored to specific motor tasks so that over time the gait motor functions will strengthen. This can help the short and long term effects of balance and posture issues that accompany PD. The professional required to deliver this treatment is physical therapists.

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Parkinson's patients will be required to take medications such as dopamine agonists and levodopa. The expected cost of these medications are between $100 to $500 or more per month, depending on the specific drug and dosage. If we were to put it on a scale of 1-5, the likelihood of these Parkinson's medications being fully covered by insurance is around a 3. Many insurance plans cover at least part of the cost of Parkinson's medications, though patients often face some degree of co-pay or coinsurance for their prescriptions. The long-term consequences if a patient with PD does not get this treatment due to cost is severe muscle spasms, uncontrollable tremors, difficulty with speech, and sometimes increased pain.

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Occupational therapy is a necessary long-term treatment for Parkinson's disease. The cost of this long-term treatment can vary by provider, but usually runs about $90 to $120 per visit. Many insurance providers cover part of the costs of occupational therapy due to it's essential role in long-term recovery, however they often place caps on what they will cover, and sometimes limit the amount of treatments. On a scale from 1-5 the likelihood that this treatment is covered is about a 3. If the person decides against this treatment due to the cost, they may not be able to perform activities of daily living (ADL) due to the condition. Holding items, cooking, bathing, etc. can be difficult due to the muscular degeneration from PD. These symptoms will worsen, and make living alone very difficult.

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Psychological therapy (such as CBT) is a long-term treatment that can be very expensive depending on multiple factors such as: frequency, level of therapy, the practitioner used, as well as if the person has good insurance. The cost per visit is usually about $100-$200 per visit which insurance companies will only pay a portion of. The likelihood of insurance covering this form of treatment is a 3. Most of the time insurance does not cover a large amount of physiological therapy sessions, only partial costs. If a person with PD does not get this treatment due to costs, they could suffer from long-term depression, anxiety, etc. which could affect their work lives and social relationships.

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An important lifestyle change people with PD may have to adopt is eating a healthy diet. Research has demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet is most effective in preventing neurological damage in people with PD, thus improving their ability to retain memory, think critically, etc. despite the condition. This diet include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, high omega-3 fatty acids such as in fish, nuts, and legumes. On a scale from 1-10 the difficulty of this lifestyle change is a 5. Eating this diet is feasible, but may be difficult for picky eaters and those with dietary restrictions/allergies. The professional that can aid in this lifestyle change is a Registered dietician and nutritionist.

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For patients with Parkinson's a key lifestyle change to improve their condition would be exercise. Exercise has been proven to improve mood, motor symptoms, and balance. Since patients with Parkinson's' struggle with motor skills when the disease progresses, it's important for them to exercise and keep their motor skills in use so that they don't forget how to use them. The difficulty of this lifestyle change varies from person to person depending on the activity level of the individual prior to the disease. On a scale of 1-10, this lifestyle change is around an 8 since some patients may not have the support, time, or funds to make the change. Physical therapists and trainers can help implement this lifestyle change.

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Individuals living in rural areas often have less access to specialized care, which for a Parkinson's patient is particularly problematic. Rural residents may have to travel long distances for care, which patients with Parkinsons' disease struggle with. It is also harder to access support services, and face difficulties in getting timely diagnoses. Understanding the unique challenges these populations face, healthcare providers can work to mitigate these barriers through targeted interventions, such as telemedicine for rural residents or multidisciplinary care that accounts for the complexities of treating older adults.

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One special population that may be at greater risk of being affected by PD is older adults. Older adults are more prone to develop PD due to the aging process and neurological decline leading to the damage of substantia nigra. However they are also more likely to suffer the most with the condition due to socioeconomic factors. Older adults tend to have difficulty acquiring insurance to treat this condition. Many older adults are unemployed or retired, reducing access to healthcare unless they rely on Medicare. The challenge of not acquiring healthcare can lead to improper diagnoses, and lack of access to neurological care and medication to treat the condition, prolonging suffering.

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Parkinson's disease is primarily genetic, however certain measures can be taken to reduce the risk of PD onset. For instance, aerobic exercise can help prevent the risk of PD. Aerobic exercise, whether it be walking, running, biking, or swimming, helps promote blood flow to the brain and enhances the circulatory system. This nourishes the brain, promotes the growth of new neurons, and prevents neurological degeneration of substantia nigra, thus preventing PD. Some special challenges one may face when trying to enact this measure are time restrictions, general lack of motivation, and lack of support. Busy schedules and not wanting to exercise can prevent one from pursuing this preventative activity.

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Recent research indicates that exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and pollution may be associated with an elevated risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Choosing to avoid areas of high pollution like cities and rural areas with high usage of pesticides can help prevent this risk. Spending more time outdoors in nature can be one way of doing this. Eating organic and locally sourced food options can also help mitigate this risk, as organic agricultural practices commonly refrain from or minimize employing such agrochemicals. Organic food may be more expensive causing someone to go for the more generic brands causing a challenge in enacting this preventative measure. Geographical barriers, and work locations can also prevent someone from avoiding toxins and preventing PD through this measure.

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Wearable sensors and smart devices are one technology used in the treatment of PD. This technology enables continuous monitoring of symptoms and can provide valuable data for adjusting treatment plans. This consists of things such as smart watches and necklaces patients with Parkinson's can wear. These items have sensors that will help track movement patterns, monitor sleep quality, and even predict the likelihood of falls, which is crucial for both diagnosis and ongoing treatment of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, they can provide real-time feedback to healthcare providers, enhancing remote care capabilities. Some negative aspects of this technology is that they can be pricey and they are not waterproof, so if a patient takes a shower or gets it wet, the data will be lost or it could be damaged.

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One technology used to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD) is a Dopamine Transporter Scan, also known as DaTscan. This technology is used as a diagnostic tool to detect the dopamine networks and transport systems in the brain. Low detections of dopamine, such as in the picture on the right, demonstrate depreciated or dysfunctional dopamine networks: an indicator of PD. Some possible negative aspects of using this technology are undesirable side effects to the Iodine drug/drink that one must take beforehand to create clear images during the scan. This could cause some nausea or stomach discomfort, but usually these side effects are short term. This technology is otherwise very safe and effective.

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Another technology that can be used to treat Parkinson's is Exablate Neuro Ultrasound technology. This treatment uses ultrasound waves in a helmet to break up and disrupt neural networks, promoting the brain to create new tissue and thus newer neural connections (unaffected by PD). This technology can be used to treat the uncontrollable muscle tremors associated with PD, and enhance or improve muscular control. One possible negative aspect of using this technology is long term or permanent numbness and tingling in the appendages. Though rare, this side effect can be lifelong.

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Public health measures that have been taken to help prevent/control Parkinson's Disease are Primordial prevention or primary prevention for susceptible groups through the use of air pollution control via the P2: Pollution Prevention Act. This act enforced companies to take pollution reducing measures, such as creating reduction programs and enacting fines for those who exceed pollution limits. This could help prevent the prevalence of PD by reducing environmental toxins and pollutions, which is repeatedly linked to PD onset. This targets the general public by reducing their risk of getting PD. Some possible challenges with this implementation are increased costs for industrial companies, as well as possible retaliation from those companies.

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Public Policy: NIH Granting for Michael J. Fox Foundation 

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Public Policy: NIH Granting for Michael J. Fox Foundation 

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One public health intervention used reduce the prevalence of Parkinson's disease is the public policy regarding PD research and funding. This specific policy, named the Early Stage Investigator policies, lobbied by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, mandates state funding for research regarding PD treatments and works to find a cure. Some of this research is done on genetics to determine if PD can be reversible or preventable. This targets people currently struggling with managing PD, as well as preventing PD from occurring in the future. Some possible challenges with this implementation are government budget cuts which would reduce funding for this research.